Improved Access Opening Times

 

BACK TO OPENING TIMES

 

Evenings/Weekends

On the 1st October 2018 Improved Access was launched nationwide. You can now see a GP or other healthcare professional during:

  • weekday evenings between 6.30pm and 8.00pm (some practices offer early morning appointments)
  • Saturdays and Sundays/Bank Holidays

These appointments offered could be:

  • At your registered practice
  • At another local GP practices
  • At another local NHS service - such as a General Practice Hub

image depicting extended access



 

What type of appointments will be available?

Evening appointments between 6.30pm – 8pm Monday to Friday will be offered by a practice in your local area. These appointments will be offered by a range of clinical professionals. Some practices in your local area may offer early morning appointments. 

On Saturdays, a clinical professional will be available between 8.00 am to 12.00 pm at a practice in your local area (times may vary).

On Sundays and Bank Holidays a GP will be available between 9.00 am to 12.30 pm at a hub in Tonbridge or Maidstone.

 

Who can book these appointments?

Improved Access appointments are available for all patients in west Kent, regardless of where they are located. This means that patients can be seen by a clinical professional 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year. It will be unlikely that you will be seen by your normal GP and it is likely that you will have to go to a different surgery to your registered practice for these appointments.

 

How can I book an appointment? 

In order to book these appointments, you contact your surgery reception staff as normal. You will not be able to phone the reception staff on Saturdays, Sundays / Bank Holidays or between 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm Monday to Friday.

 

Sevenoaks Urgent Treatment Centre

Sevenoaks Urgent Treatment Centre, based at Sevenoaks Hospital is Open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and has two GPs stationed there throughout the day.

The service is suitable for patients for same day appointments that cannot wait 24 hours to be seen.

Patients can be seen by a GP in the UTC either by obtaining an appointment through NHS 111 by asking for a booked appointment, or alternatively signposted to attend as a walk-in.